The Russian movie Ostrov is excellent; it is a story of a fool for Christ who lives in a monastery in repentance after committing a terrible sin but people flock to him since he is a miracle worker and a clairvoyant. I also love the short DVD Holy Cross Hermitage has brought out called From the Little Mountain which takes you through a year at the monastery; it is very beautiful. Also, the classic Russian film Andrei Rublev is also really wonderful.

I enjoyed those as well as searching around the related videos that came with them. Thanks!

I'll pass compliments to my dad. He directed it

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So is Church Slavonic the main liturgical language in Poland or is some vernacular Polish / Ukrainian / Belorusian / Rusyn used?

Yes, Church Slavonic is the main liturgical language in Poland. Polish is used in a few (4 I think) parishes in bigger cities (Warsaw, Wrocław, Białystok) and in Services for some special occasions (national feasts, services for soldiers and similar). In some parishes (more-less 30% of total) some Polish elements as litanies and readings are put.

I don't know what about southern part of the country inhabited by Ukrainians and Lemkos. I've read that there is something what is called 'Church Slavonic with Ukrainian accent' but I have no idea what it is and how does it sound like. There are not regular Services in Ukrainian - I'm sure.

There used to be one parish which had Liturgy in Belarusian but it stopped. On some occasions there are services in other languages as Greek. This year we also had Liturgy in Serbian because of St. Savva's Day. When there are some Ukrainians feasts Ukrainian is used.

Sermons are generally preached in Polish. Oddly, where I live (Podlachia), priests use Russian with Polish elements what is an awful mixture. Ukrainians and Lemkos, as they are more nationally oriented, have sermons in their own languages.

So is Church Slavonic the main liturgical language in Poland or is some vernacular Polish / Ukrainian / Belorusian / Rusyn used?

Yes, Church Slavonic is the main liturgical language in Poland. Polish is used in a few (4 I think) parishes in bigger cities (Warsaw, Wrocław, Białystok) and in Services for some special occasions (national feasts, services for soldiers and similar). In some parishes (more-less 30% of total) some Polish elements as litanies and readings are put.

I don't know what about southern part of the country inhabited by Ukrainians and Lemkos. I've read that there is something what is called 'Church Slavonic with Ukrainian accent' but I have no idea what it is and how does it sound like. There are not regular Services in Ukrainian - I'm sure.

There used to be one parish which had Liturgy in Belarusian but it stopped. On some occasions there are services in other languages as Greek. This year we also had Liturgy in Serbian because of St. Savva's Day. When there are some Ukrainians feasts Ukrainian is used.

Sermons are generally preached in Polish. Oddly, where I live (Podlachia), priests use Russian with Polish elements what is an awful mixture. Ukrainians and Lemkos, as they are more nationally oriented, have sermons in their own languages.

The Polish - Russian mixture seems odd to me. Are there any actual native speakers of Russian around? I could see it making sense if there were a lot of newly arrived migrants from Russia, but to use Russian in the heart of what has historically been Belarusian / Polish territory seems more a political statement than anything else.

I know of no Orthodox movies, but movies w/scene's from Orthodox Church services come to mind.

"The Dear Hunter," has scenes from a wedding and funeral filmed at the historic St. Theodosios Russian Orthodox Cathedral (OCA) in Cleveland, Ohio.

There are at least two movies about Nicholas and Alexandra which include scenes of Orthodox Services.

Also, there's a beautiful made for TV movie from the Kojak series. The story is about a young Greek girl who has been separated from her mother, from an airline flight from Greece to New York. Theodosios Kojak is seen getting out of a car, picking up a newspaper on a news stand; it's the Greek language version of "The National Herald," "Ethnicos Kirix." The very cute little girl speaks Greek through the episode to Kojak who devotes his time to finding her mother and eating in Greek restaurants. There's also a Kojak episode where Kojak is seen leaving the precinct announcing, "I'll be at St. Basil's Church in the Bronx." The story involves the wedding of his niece.

And, of course, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" shows short portions of the Baptism and Wedding Services, chanted in the Greek language, though the hymn chanted after the immersions is not "As many as have been Baptised..."

There is another movie from the mid-'80s (+/-), about an East European Orthodox bishop, in America, with a Nazi past, (mirroring the story of Romanian Orthodox Archbishop Valerian (Trifa), of Blessed Memory.)

You may wish to view the web site of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, "www.goarch.org" for numerous instructional videos from "GoTelecom."

"Exorcist II: The Heretic" (1977). It explores the theme of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (monastic life in the mountains of Ethiopia) and of the Aerial Realm of Spirits (described by Fr Seraphim Rose in his book "The Soul After Death"). The scene of performing the Eucharist featured Abuna Yesehaq of the EOTC.

I'm looking for some good Orthodox movies. I'm thinking of movies that are in English or have English subtitles.

Documentaries and the such are also good.

The priest who usually conducts our young adult Bible studies is going to be out for the next four weeks, and if we can't get another priest for every week, we may watch a movie.

The movie "Dr. Zhivago" (1965, I think) has a great scene from a Russian Orthodox Funeral.

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Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed, but with fear we cry out in the middle of the night, Holy, Holy, Holy art thou o God, Thru the prayers of the Theotokos have mercy on us and save us!

"Exorcist II: The Heretic" (1977). It explores the theme of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (monastic life in the mountains of Ethiopia) and of the Aerial Realm of Spirits (described by Fr Seraphim Rose in his book "The Soul After Death"). The scene of performing the Eucharist featured Abuna Yesehaq of the EOTC.

Wow. I have never seen this movie. Saw "The Exorcist," but not the second one. I'll see it soon. I hope they didn't misrepresent my EOTC!

Selam

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"There are two great tragedies: one is to live a life ruled by the passions, and the other is to live a passionless life."Selam, +GMK+

Yeah, you're probably right. Not a whole lot of theological accuracy or religious respect coming out of Hollywood. But, I am curious, since Archbishop Yesehaq is apparrently shown in the film. I don't think he would allow that if they didn't portray the EOTC accurately. Maybe they didn't have his permission? I hope my EOTC brothers might know more about this.

Selam

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"There are two great tragedies: one is to live a life ruled by the passions, and the other is to live a passionless life."Selam, +GMK+

"Exorcist II: The Heretic" (1977). It explores the theme of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (monastic life in the mountains of Ethiopia) and of the Aerial Realm of Spirits (described by Fr Seraphim Rose in his book "The Soul After Death"). The scene of performing the Eucharist featured Abuna Yesehaq of the EOTC.

Are you sure Archbishop Yesehaq was in the movie, or could it have been an actor dressed to look kind of like him? He's not mentioned in the imdb page on the movie and I have trouble believing a bishop of the Ethiopian Church would consent to being in a B-movie horror flick. Isn't this the movie in which Richard Burton dressed up like a locust? I seem to recall hearing about it when it came out.

There is a scene of monks dancing in an ecstatic way during the Liturgy - I don't know if it is a custom of Ethiopian monastics. But generally speaking, the movie shows the EOTC as spiritually very strong - Roman Catholic priests search guidance and Divine grace in an Ethiopian monastery.

I've never seen the movie either, but I'll go out on a limb here and guess that they did.

They did, big time. The plot of the movie is that this Teilhard de Chardin like priest sees the real meaning of Christianity as uniting all beings in some sort of mystical communion. They go out seeking mysticism in Ethiopia but get driven out in what was sort of a stoning. But, there were some cool shots of the rock monasteries, and who knows, perhaps it will encourage some casual observer to do some serious research.

Раскол (Schism) A russian epic of the nikon reforms, many episodes. Sadly I could not find english translations, but you can see it on youtube full. It has very accurate by using historical sources and research into even historically accurate vestments and consulting old believer experts. This cost around 11 million dollars to produce. I really like it, and you can sort of tell what is happening, such as when the Greeks come and show problems they perceivesee the entire thing here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IRmBjfeNCIwhen one ends, go to account for this user and find the second part, and the third fourth fifth sixth, ectect

there is also the film:Царь (tsar)yes about Ivan the Terrible, but it is mostly about the tsar and the metropolitan. lots of critics of this movie being innacurate, but it is entertaining anyway. might be able to find an english translation of it somewhere

well,I was thinking to keep linking more movies, but they are probably all without english subtitles and only russian. as others said though, that one movie about the fool for christ is good too. anyway, here is a short movie to see about St. Gregory PAlamas, basically hagiography but in video form. this is greek, BUT HAS ENGLISH SUBTITLES!

You can also see there, a video about St Luke of Simferopol and Crimea, you can also watch that there with english subtitiles, but I would recommend watching it on youtube here since you can move around the time if you miss something:

It's about Orthodox Monastery in Ukraine near the Romanian border where they have an orphanage for about 200 kids, most of them with severe disabilities.A marvelous example of people who truly live the Faith.